VICKSBURG, MI - At 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, Vicksburg offensive lineman Kyle Rose stands out on the football field, even before he starts flattening opposing defenders to the turf.

But the size that has allowed him to excel as a three-year starter in high school isn't such a unique characteristic at the next level, especially at his natural offensive tackle position, where height and wingspan are critical tools in keeping pass rushers at bay.

So, when coaches from Big Ten and Mid-American Conference programs came to scout and recruit him, Rose heard a lot of praise for his athleticism, criticism for his height and questions about whether he'd be open to moving to guard or center.

"They told him if you play well, we'll see (about a scholarship offer), but you almost double or triple your player pool at those positions (guard and center)," Vicksburg head coach Tom Marchese said. "Everyone was honest with him and loved how he moved, but some of those guys make a lot of money, and their strategy is to load up on offensive tackles, then move them inside if that doesn't work out.

"If Kyle was 6-4, he'd be in the Big Ten."

While plenty of schools lined up to see him, only two Division-I programs -- Air Force and Navy -- offered scholarships, with both teams recruiting Rose as an offensive tackle for their run-heavy offenses, which rely on athletic lineman identifying and executing downfield blocks.

On July 5, Rose committed to Air Force and longtime coach Troy Calhoun based on the team atmosphere and how the staff sees him fitting into the offense.

I am extremely excited to say that I will be continuing my academic and athletic career attending and playing football at the United States Air Force Academy. Thank you to all my family, friends, coaches, and teammates that have been with me through this journey. #Boltbrotherhoodpic.twitter.com/PqGox5hXqB

“When I was out there, it really felt like home to me,” he said. "I trusted all the coaches that recruited me, and I got to meet a lot of the players and recruits on my visit, and they seemed like guys I could spend the next four years of my life with.

"They said they'd look to bring me in as an offensive tackle because they like their tackles to get out in space and block the linebackers and the DBs and pull some, and with what I've done in high school, they think I can do that at the next level."

Since his first football game in fifth grade, Rose has anchored the line at offensive tackle, and while staying at that familiar position is his preference, he has been working on snapping the ball and said he was open to moving inside if any schools put forth a scholarship offer.

"I've played tackle as long as I can remember, and I think I'm athletic enough that I can play anywhere on the offensive line, and I think I’m smart enough to play any position on the line, but I'm a little more comfortable at tackle," he said. "Air force and Navy were the only schools that looked at me at tackle, and I knew that most schools weren't going to look at me for that, so I used that as fuel to worker harder.

"I've used that as a chip on my shoulder to try to prove the bigger schools wrong."

Three Rivers WR Gavin Charvat (5) attempts to run past Vicksburg DL Kyle Rose (74) during the game between Three Rivers and Vicksburg on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017 at Three Rivers high school in Three Rivers, Mich.Kaytie Boomer I MLive.com

A tenacious Kyle Rose is something Wolverine Conference opponents have gotten used to over the past two years, and going against someone with an even bigger chip on his shoulder isn't something they should be looking forward to in 2019.

"For as nice of a boy as he is, he knows he has to play nasty, and that's what he does when he gets to the second level," Marchese said. "He finishes his blocks and plays to the whistle."

While he's never missed a day of practice or conditioning and holds a 3.6 GPA, Rose said his mean streak on the field is his best attribute above his work ethic and football IQ.

"I try to be the meanest, toughest player out there," he said. "I don't like playing soft in any sport, and I'll never back down from a challenge.

"I had to block (Paw Paw grad and current Michigan offensive lineman) Karsen Barnhart and go up against him on defense, and I loved that. We're buddies off the field, but on the field we're big rivals, and one of the things I saw from watching film on him was taking guys to the ground.

I amplified that more this year, and tried to drive guys into the dirt as much as possible."

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.